Yukon coroner investigating second death at Whitehorse shelter in less than two weeks

The Yukon coroner has confirmed another person has died at the shelter in Whitehorse. 

In a written statement, the coroner said the person died on Monday. The office didn't provide the name of the person or cause of death, saying the investigation is in the "very early stages."

A spokesperson with the Department of Justice declined to comment. However, notes in an email that before the person died, they had been visiting a tenant in the Housing First unit, located above the shelter.

This is the second confirmed shelter death in less than two weeks.

On Dec. 18, Leonard James Capot-Blanc, a member of the Fort Nelson First Nation, also died at the shelter.

His stepdaughter, Nikita Bailey, told CBC News that Connective, the organization behind the shelter, didn't tell the family of Capot-Blanc's death. Instead, Bailey said she learned of his death from a friend.

"[Connective has] a policy to check on people every few minutes in every room, but when I asked them they said we didn't think Leonard needed to be checked on. 

"These aren't just, you know, drunk people at the shelter with nowhere to go. Like, these people are loved and needed. Like now me and my little sister are here all alone."

Bailey said her biological father also died at the shelter in 2021.

Connective has not responded to multiple requests for comment.

Earlier this year, the coroner conducted an inquest into the deaths of four Indigenous women at the shelter between 2022 and 2023. The inquest jury issued eight recommendations, including that Connective review its policies and procedures within six months and give staff better training. The jury also recommended that any future deaths at the shelter be subject to independent review.